Valentino Rossi->ke1462 fans aren’t going to like this, but Marc Marquez is considered the best motorcycle rider in the world today. Don’t take it out on me because I’m probably not the only one who believes this. Besides, Marquez is the two-time defending MotoGP->ke2192 world champion, having won his two titles in his first two years in the series. He’s still got a ways to go to match Rossi’s nine titles, but he’s well on his way to doing it.
Recently, Marquez added to his growing legend by posting the fastest ever time on two wheels around Malaysia’s Sepang circuit. In case you’re wondering, Marquez’s lap time of 1.58:867 is the fastest any one’s ever gone around Sepang in a motorcycle. Oh, and the record time of 1.59:533 that he beat? Yeah, that was his, too.
The reigning champion’s remarkable record was posted during Repsol Honda’s three-day test run around the circuit ahead of the opening of the 2015 MotoGP season. His partner, Dani Pedrosa, wasn’t too bad himself, recording a personal best time of 1.59:006, only 0.139 seconds off of Marquez’s new record time.
While the purpose of the test run is pretty obvious, Marquez posting a record time is the kind of morale boosting effort the team needs ahead of its own title defense this coming season. If both Marquez and Pedrosa can continue clocking lap times like they did during the Sepang test session, it’s going to be very difficult for other teams to be able to compete against these guys.
Click past the jump to read more about Marc Marquez's record-setting lap time.
Why it matters
It's perfectly understandable for some people to still scoff at the accomplishments of Marc Marquez in MotoGP. I've heard it numerous times from a lot of people who believe that his success in the racing series is solely attributed to having a superior bike than the rest of the field. Those were the same complaints Sebastian Vettel received when he won his four straight Formula One world titles.
But just because you think it's all about the bike, that doesn't mean Marc Marquez lacks the requisite skill to succeed in MotoGP. By all accounts, the kid has been as good as advertised, having pretty much won in every motorcycle level he's competed in. That's not the kind of thing that happens to riders that have little talent. That's the kind of thing that happens to riders with a lot of talent.
Marc Marquez is the real deal, ladies and gentlemen. You may not like the way he has dominated MotoGP the past two years, but rest assured, the kid is special on a motorcycle. All the proof you need is on the new record time around Sepang to believe in the talent of this young man.